The Markit/CIPS Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) dropped to 50.5 in April from a downwardly revised 51.9 in March

UK manufacturing growth slowed to a virtual standstill last month after a drop in new orders from the eurozone hit confidence across the sector.

The Markit/CIPS Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) dropped to 50.5 in April from a downwardly revised 51.9 in March, keeping the sector just above the 50 level which separates growth from contraction.

Economists had forecast only a small dip in growth to 51.5 after a string of positive surveys through February and March had raised hopes of a recovery. The weak data could force the Bank of England’s monetary policy committee (MPC) to reconsider its view that the economy is strong enough to move ahead without further quantitative easing (QE).

Markit said the crisis in Europe was hurting British factories. Although activity did expand in April for the fifth month running, the data also showed the sharpest fall in new export orders since May 2009.

“What manufacturers really need to see is a marked improvement in new order inflows,” said Rob Dobson, senior economist at Markit, which compiles the PMI survey.

“It seems that weaknesses in our major trading partner, the eurozone, are starting to hit home, especially for consumer goods producers,” he added.

Labour has blamed the return to recession on government policies that have rejected stimulating the economy in favour of cuts in public spending and investment, rather than supporting manufacturers and the wider economy during turbulent times for the world economy.